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In a week aimed at reminding the student community that HIV/AIDS is not going away, students have organized various events that will culminate in a march to Bruin Plaza on World AIDS Day this Friday.

The purpose of Get Tested Week is to “beat sexually-transmitted diseases through preventative education,” according to a press release from the Undergraduate Students Association Council Office of the General Representative No. 1, which is hosting the event.

Half of all sexually active persons will contract an STD by age 25, but less than half of all adults between the ages of 18 and 44 have ever been tested for a STD other than HIV/AIDS, according to the American Social Health Association.

The most recent figures from the World Health Organization show that worldwide, there are 39.5 million people living with HIV. The theme for Get Tested week is “Beat STDs,” as this year the event coincides with “Beat ’SC” week. Volunteers will distribute condoms and STD informational brochures on Bruin Walk and offer free testing to students.

“The goal is to educate students and to destigmatize the idea of getting tested,” said Carlos Saucedo from the Office of General Representative No. 1.

All week open forums, films and classes will be taking place across the campus and students will be able to sign up for free, rapid and anonymous HIV testing in the Court of Sciences and Pauley Pavilion.

Processions will begin from Schoenberg Hall, De Neve and the Court of Sciences on Friday at 11:30 a.m. and will convene at Bruin Plaza. The event will continue with speeches, live music and art exhibits.

Get Tested Week ends on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.

Since 1988, World AIDS Day has sought to focus global attention on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, according to the World AIDS Campaign.

The message of UCLA’s World AIDS Day events is “Kiss and Tell.”

“Know your status. It’s advantageous for both you and your partner,” said Tamaron Jang, the USAC Student Welfare commissioner. “And it’s particularly important for people in our demographic.”

According to the World AIDS Campaign, this year’s message is “accountability,” a plea to governments, policy makers and regional health authorities to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS and to uphold promises such as the “All by 2010” pledge and the Millennium Development Goal to reduce the spread of the disease. According to the international HIV/AIDS charity AVERT, these targets are not being met.

World leaders agreed to these efforts to reduce the growth of the epidemic, but according to the United Nations’ UNAIDS/WHO 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update, the disease continues to spread.

In North America and Western Europe, many HIV prevention programs have not been sustained and the number of new infections has not decreased since 2004. According to AVERT, due to better drugs, new initiatives and promises like those made at the Group of Eight summit last year to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, people believe the situation is improving.

However, AVERT says the AIDS epidemic is worse than ever and is still growing.

Programs such as Get Tested Week are part of attempts to counter this growth, and organizers believe education and testing is vital if the spread of HIV/AIDS is to be reduced.